The woman's scream ripped through the storage room, sharp and desperate, pulling Jinx out of her spiraling thoughts. The sound was raw, filled with terror and agony, and it cut through the fog of memories like a blade.
Jinx's eyes snapped open. The pregnant woman's face was contorted in pain, her body arching against the crates, her hands clutching her belly. Fresh blood seeped through her gown.
"Help me," the woman cried. "Please, it hurts so much. I can feel it...my child is dying."
Jinx grabbed the woman's shoulders and looked directly into her eyes. "Do not panic," she said, her voice firm despite the trembling in her hands. "If you keep panicking, I cannot help you. I need you to breathe."
The woman's chest heaved. Tears and sweat mingled on her face.
"Think about how we can safely help you and your child," Jinx continued, holding her gaze. "Focus on that. Not on the fear. Not on the pain. Just on surviving. Both of you."
